Multi-pointed pick for removing dents in motor vehicle bodies



Un r d Stat s, ,Pa cnrO "h MULTI-POINTED "PICK FOR REMGVIN G DEN TS IN MOTOR VEHICLE BODIES This invention relates to a multi-pointed pick for removing dents in motor vehicle bodies. H

Among the tools which are conventionally'used in hammering out dents in automobile, bus and truck bodies and the like are picks. These picks are provided with a single point at one end and with a hammerhead at the opposite end. The hammer portion may be of the ball pein type or cone shaped or shaped in any other conventional manner, Sometimes, thetool is provided only with a point. Picks are used for hammering out narrow dents which generally extend along a straight line although this is not always the case. These dents define sharp ridges which the pick must strike in order to hammer them out and 'to provide a smooth even surface.

Since the pick which is in conventional use is a relatively sharp, pointed tool, and since the ridge which it must strike is itself relatively sharp, it will be understood that a very trained and skilled hand is required to accurately center the pick on the ridge. But even great skill and a true eye do not always prevent the pick from glancing off the sharp edge of the ridge and striking the side of the ridge. This not only defeats the purpose for which the pick is used but it also tends to form additional dents which must be hammered out.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide a pick which will unerringly strike a sharp ridge formed in a motor vehicle body, irrespective of the skill and ability of the person wielding the pick.

The pick which is herein described and claimed is provided with a multi-pointed head, each point corresponding, substantially, to the single point of a conventional pick. The points of the pick constituting the present invention are spaced and positioned closely together so that if one point should happen to miss striking the sharp ridge, another point will strike it. Furthermore, even if by some chance all of the points should happen to miss the ridge, the tool will not glance away from the ridge to form new dents since the ridge will be caught between at least two of the points and this will prevent any lateral movement of the tool to either side of the ridge.

In one form of this invention, the head of the tool herein claimed is shaped, substantially, like a sphere and all of the points are of equal length so that no one point will project beyond any of the other points. Since the head of this tool is spherical any part of it may be struck against the work with equal effect. In another form of this invention, only a portion of the head of the tool is provided with a sepherical surface and it is on this surface that the points are formed. On the opposite side of the head is a rounded portion which may serve as a hammer of the type used in smoothing out or hammering out dents occupying relatively large areas.

The specific head shape with which the tool is provided will be determined by the individual requirements of the various types of dent-removing operations which are common in the industry. The specific head shapes shown in the drawing are simply illustrative of this invention and 2,723,576 Patented Nov. 15, 1955 they should not be understood as limiting the invention to the specific forms shown.

Preferred forms of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a multi-pointed pick made in accordance with one form of this invention, wherein the head of the tool is substantially spherical in shape and the points cover substantially the entire spherical surface thereof. 2 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section through the head of said tool, showing the points to be integral therewith and to constitute, with said head, a single casting or forging. Fig. -3 is a fragmentary plan view of a pick made in accordance with a second form of this invention, showing the head of the tool with a spherical surface on one side and a plurality of points on said spherical surface, and showing a rounded surface on the opposite side which serves as a hammer.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the multiple-pointed pick which is herein claimed comprises but two component parts: A head 10 and a handle 12. The handle should preferably be made. of wood and it should be of the type which is generally used in picks for body work. The head of the tool is made of cast or forged steel or of any other suitable material-made in any other suitable way. It is provided with a hole 14 which receives the tapered end 16 of the handle. There is a press fit between the head and the handle and conventional wedges may be employed to lock the two together.

It will be seen that the head of the tool is substantially spherical in shape and that it is provided with a plurality of pointed projections 18. These pointed projections or points are rounded somewhat at their ends or tips but they may be as sharp as desired. The precise shape of each of these pointed projections is not critical but a modified cone shape as shown in the drawing is preferred. In general, these pointed projections should resemble the shape of the point of a conventional pick. Whatever variations are conventionally provided in the shape of the point of a conventional pick are contemplated in connection with these pointed projections 18.

It has been stated that these pointed projections are formed on a substantially spherical head. It will be understood, as shown in the drawing, that these pointed projections are all of substantially equal length so that none of them project beyond the others. The size of the head may vary and it may be larger or smaller than that shown in the drawing.

The spacing among the pointed projections is illustrated in the drawing. For purposes of clarity, these pointed projections are shown spaced relatively far apart. It will be understood, however, that in the actual tool these pointed projections should be situated much closer together with their apexes approximately three sixteenths or one quarter of an inch apart. The length of these pointed projections as shown in the drawing, may also be modified and it will be understood that in the actual tool these pointed projections may be relatively long, for example, a quarter to half an inch in length. Relatively long points may be required to penetrate the undercoating which is provided on many vehicle bodies.

The pointed projections are formed integrally with the head of the tool. They may be cast or forged together with the head of the tool or they may be formed in any other suitable way, as by machining.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that a handle 20 is provided which is similar to or identical with handle The curved surface 28 may be used for hammering out dents of relatively large area or for other purposes in the body repairing field.

Pointed projections 30, similar to pointed projections 18, are formed on spherical surface 26. These pointed projections may be formed on said spherical surface in the same manner and by the same means as pointed projections 18 are formed on head 10. They may correspond to projections 18 in shape, in size and in spacing and of course their function would also correspond to the function which pointed projections 18 perform.

It will be understood that the precise shape of the head of the tool as shown in the drawing is purely illustrative and so is the precise shape of the pointed projections as shown in the drawing. The size of the head and the size of the pointed projections are also, to the extent shown in the drawing, purely illustrative. The head of the tool may constitute a conventional hammer on one side and it may be provided with the pointed projections herein claimed on the opposite side. The handle may be screw threaded into the head of the tool, if desired, instead of being press-fitted therein as above indicated. Modifications and variations in shape and size may be incorporated both into the head of the tool and into the pointed projections thereon within the broad spirit of the invention and the broad scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A pick for motor vehicle body work of the character described, comprising a handle and a metal head on said handle, said metal head having a substantially spherical surface and pointed projections formed on said spherical surface, said pointed projections being of substantially equal height and substantially uniformly spaced from each other, said pointed projections being provided with rounded points whose apexes are spaced approximately a quarter of an inch apart, the entire head being substantially spherical in shape, providing a relatively large spherical'surface covering substantially the entire head with the exception of the part connected to the handle, said pointed projections being formed on said entire spherical surface.

2. A pick for motor vehicle body work of the character described, comprising a handle and a metal head on said handle, said metal head having a substantially spherical surface and pointed projections formed on said spherical surface, said pointed projections being of substantially equal height and substantially uniformly spaced from each other, said pointed projections being provided with rounded points whose apexes are spaced approximately a quarter of an inch apart, said pointed projections and said head being formed integrally with each other, each pointed projection being approximately an eighth to a quarter of an inch in length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

